National League Division 2

North Stourbridge 19, Sale 40

STOUR'S play-off prospects fell to pieces after they were put to the sword by second placed Sale.

Director of Rugby Neil Mitchell admitted Stour's season was effectively over promotion-wise as a result of this heavy defeat which left his side empty-handed, but insisted his players would fight to the end.

Stour didn't help themselves having inside centre Ransford Otutaha yellow carded in the early stages before replacement second row Nick Murphy was sent off close to half time.

But there was no escaping the fact that Sale were the better side and they took charge from the word go.

Such was Sale's dominance in the first half that Stour struggled to get out of their own territory for the entire 40 minutes.

Sale full back Liam McGovern kicked the Cheshire club in front with an early penalty.

Further Sale pressure produced a try on 15 minutes when scrum half Sam Stelmaszek shrugged off a couple of attempted tackles to score in the corner and McGovern followed up with a tremendous touchline conversion.

Stour defended doggedly and managed to keep Sale at bay until the 35th minute when their continual bombardment finally told as No.8 Tom Ailes found a gap to plough over for a second try which McGovern duly converted to make the score 17-0.

From the re-start, Stour suffered another body-blow as Murphy was sent off, leaving try-scorer Ailes requiring lengthy treatment before being stretchered off.

Upon resumption, Sale stormed straight upfield to secure a third try when winger Ciaran Connolly raced over to leave the score at 22-0 by half time.

Within two minutes of the second half, Sale had made it 27-0 with a fourth and bonus point try as outside centre Jack Moorhouse raced over the corner, leaving Stour with a mountain to climb.

But to their credit, Stour refused to buckle under the onslaught and struck back with a try when the ball was thrown down the line for replacement centre Nathan Tilsley to scamper over.

Back came Sale with a further try as fly half Chris Johnson was allowed to run unchallenged under the posts for McGovern to duly convert and put his side out of sight at 34-5.

Sale were reduced to 14 men themselves on 60 minutes when impressive winger Paolo Odogwu was given a yellow card.

Stour then showed tremendous spirit by snapping up a couple of tries in the final quarter, Tilsley crossing for his second score on 61 minutes before winger Dan Rundle made it seven tries in seven games, which may well be a National League record.

Replacement full back Rod Petty converted both tries as Stour threatened to pick up a try-scoring bonus point from the carnage.

But instead, Sale effectively saw the game out and stretched the advantage with a Johnson drop goal together with another McGovern penalty.

A dejected Mitchell added: "We struggled with our set-piece play throughout the game and you can't go forward without the ball!

Stour slip back to fourth in the table as a result of this defeat, but more importantly are now 16 points adrift of Sale with nine games to play.

Stour: White (Petty 44), Rundle, Hollis (Tilsley 42), Otutaha, Trinham; Scott, Heatley; Harrison, Lea ( Wilkes 42), George ( Thorne 28); Depper, Mather (Murphy 30); Mukarati, Munro, Moore.